Sulphate of copper solution is a very cheap disinfectant, and may be used to advantage in typhoid fever.
After this treatment again keep the room closed for four or five hours. Then wipe floor, walls, and woodwork with corrosive sublimate solution (1: 2000) or carbolic acid solution (3 per cent.).
DISINFECTION IN PRIVATE NURSING.
In a private home (M. D. P., American Journal of Nursing) if contagion has taken the family by surprise and a room has not been especially prepared, leave in the room all the furniture and fittings in order that everything may be disinfected finally.
During the progress of the disease no blankets, coverings, etc., must ever be shaken from the windows. They can only be aired within the room, or rooms, occupied by the patient. Moist sheets hung outside the door leading to the rest of the house prevent the passage of dust from the sick-room. It is sufficient to keep them sprinkled with plain water, as the important thing is the moisture. However, a solution of carbolic acid may be used. They should be kept wet by some one on the clean side of the house. Soiled linen from the sick-room should be placed in a wash-boiler or metal can full of water, never taken to the laundry in a dry condition. Here also a weak solution of carbolic acid maybe used, or a very weak solution of soda. However, plain water will be sufficient. They should be boiled for at least half an hour. Patients’ dishes and silver should be kept in the room, and before returning to the house should be boiled.
All cleaning within the patient’s room during illness should be done with moist cloths, which should be put into paper bags and burnt.
Upon leaving the room the patient should receive an unusually thorough bath, hair and all, with tincture of green soap, a dilute alcohol rub, and finally a sponge-bath of bichlorid of mercury, 1: 2000 to 1: 4000, according to age.
The mode of disinfecting rooms is, generally, to use formaldehyd.
Before setting free formaldehyd in any form the nurse should put on rubber gloves, glasses, and a thick mouth and nose protector, as the fumes are very irritating. After leaving the room she should seal up the door and leave all over night, and then thoroughly air and house-clean on the morrow. Mattresses and pillows had better be steam-sterilized if there is any sterilizing plant in the town, or, in the country, made over and sunned thoroughly.